Gopher-trap.



No 872,041. PATENTED NOV. 26, 1907. W. D. ARMSTRONG, W. O. HOOKER & K. R. MARKS.

GOPHER, TRAP.

APPLICATION. FILED was 14. 1907.

I 1 E x N W 4 2 INVENJVORSII I ATTORNEY WILLIAM n-ARMsrRoNe,

WILLIAM OHAUNOEY HOOKER, AND KNOX'R. MARKS,

OF ABINGDON, ILLINOIS.

GOPHER-TRAP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 26, 1907.

Application filed June 14:- 1907- Serial No. 379.075.

To all whom it may concern: Be-it' known that we, I/VILLIAM D. ARM- STRONG, WILLIAM OnAUNonY HOOKER, and KNOX R. IVIARKS, all citizens of the United States, and residents of Abingdon, in the county of Knox and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Gopher-Trap, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to animal traps of that type or character which include in their construction a base and a substantially U- shaped spring-actuated catching jaw, a porplaced underground when in use.

tion, at least, of the trap being generally In this connection it is well here to describe some of the habits and characteristics ofthe pocket gopher. All the members of the family spend substantially their entire lives under ground, and their whole organization is modied in accordance with the needs of a subterranean existence. The subterranean tunnel is usually about four inches in diameter and is supplied with numerous outlets where the rodent discharges the dirt which accumulates in the construction of said tunnel. These outlets are always-kept closed exceptwhen the gopher is at work. The frequency of such openings, which are discovered by the mounds of earth thrown out, clearly show the location of the subterranean tunnel.

With these objects in view, the primary object of the invention is to pronde a trap which may be set underneath the surface of the ground or only partly thereunder, and which will effectually serve the purpose for which it is intended and designed. Having thisrimary object in mind we have provided two forms of such trap, both embodying the same essential features and similar assemblages, both of them adapted to be buried in the ground and covered with light layer of soil, the only difference in thetwo forms being that one is provided with a housing while the other is not.

Another object is to provide a trap of the class described, the jaw of which is adapted to catch and hold the animal beneath the platform instead of on top thereof as heretofore. By so catching them, the back of the animal will rest against the platform or top 5.

A still further object is to provide a trap" the tripping lever of which while projecting through an aperture in the base or platform, is adapted to be tr1ppe'd by contact of the animal thereagainst, and not by the weight of the animal on the platform. I p

A still further object is to provide a trap of the type referred to having a wooden support or housing 'on and in which the moving parts of the trap operate. \Ve, however, do not wish to be understood as limiting our claims to any specific material or materials. And a still further Object is to provide a trap of such construction that after having been covered, when set, with soil, the rclative'positions of the operating parts will be so chan ed when sprung that they will be plainly exposed to view.

Other objects of our invention consist in novel structural features and-combinations of devices, the operation of which devices separately and'in combination will be found hereinafter fully described, and the novel combinations of which devices are set forth in the claims hereto appended,

Subsidiary objects will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood.

It will be manifest that while we have termed our invention a gopher trap, and shall describe it as employed in trapping a go her, it is equally applicable for catching ot ier animals.

Mechanism showing the structural fea' tures, the preferred arrangement, connection and mutual relatlonship of the moving and still (parts of our improvements, is illus trate in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective embodying our" invention and showing the parts in sprung or unset position; Fig. 2 1s a longitudinal central sectional elevation, the box or housmg not shown and the ends being reversed from that shown at Fig. 1, the trap being shown as in set position; and Fig. 3, an end view, the parts being in the same relative positions as at Fig. 1.

Attention is called to the numerals of refthe platform isa compound or combined tripping and release lever 7 hinged thereto by astaple 8 which strides a depression 9' Mountedon a rod 12 pivoted to the platform 5 by staples 13 or in any other suitable manner are torsion springs 14, one end, 15,

of each of which is extended and takes against the platform, its other end, 16, being projected through a slot in a substantially l i-shaped bow or yoke 17, the ends of which are pivoted on the rod 12. It will be evident that the springs 14 may be otherwise connected to the yoke if preferred, it being required only that the'connection be such that they-will effectually actuate it. At its freeerid the yoke 17 is apertured for the reception of the ends of a depending jaw 18, .the parallel arms of which preferably pass through enlarged apertures 19 near the front end of the platform. Numerous unessential details of construction, assemblage and mutual relationship of the parts of our improvements may be made without departing from the general idea and conception of the invention.

The operation follows :The parts being in the relative positions shown at Figs. 1 and 3, the operator will draw downwardly on the free end of the yoke 17 until it contacts and forces the detent backwardly or toward the. open end of the housing. When this movement has progressed until the yoke end (which is preferably strap-like in cross sec-. tion,) has passed beneath the detent, the

trip, which was slightly elevated by the aforesaid movement of the detent, will fall by gravity and return the detent to its normal position, where it will engage the yoke and lock the parts in the relative positions, shown in Fig. "2. Let it be supposed that; the trap shown at Figs. 1 and 3 is to beused. 1

A vertical hole is dug bythe, 0 erator down? to the bottom of the horizonta tunnel, and, the trap, restingon its sides, placed therein.'--

Soil is then thrown over the trap, the sides with dirt and obstructing the working parts.

As the rodent goes forward he will pass over 1 the end or cross-piece of the jaw (which is preferably of wire,) strike the trip as he attempts to refill the opening or trap, the movement throwin back the detent and of our invention, we claim as new the followadaptedto engage the yoke andits longer -base, a trippin and release lever pivoted at' ed on said-rod. and adapted to be actuated by said springs, ,a jaw depending therefrom,

;with the yoke and its other endto be tripped by-the contact of an animal beneath'the base.

,and top thereof preventing it from filling smear wardly into a substantially vertical position by the springs, and the jaw 'bein connected thereto will be forcibly and wit great rapidity. drawn upwardly,'the animal being caught between and the top 5, in which position he can make no eflective eflorts to free himself. I 70,

The upward movement just described of the yoke will throw the dirt therefrom; it Wlll stand in the upright position described and indicate to'the trapper that the trap has V 1 been sprung. -Being buried in soil, in all conditions of weather, moisture will cause the wood parts of the trap to swell. In eitherofthe constructions described the jaw will befree from frictional contact with any part ofthe trap and its positive operation is not interfered with thereby. The construction illustrated at Fig' 2 is generally placed in the inclined hole or out-. let a V-shaped trench being dug therefor. The operation is the same as in the other,

the active parts being identical. 1

Having thus set forth the construction and operation, the purposes and advantages ing,towit; j v

1. In a trap, in combination, an apertured base, a. spring actuated yoke fulcrumed thereon, a U-shaped jaw, the arms of which v are projected through apertures in the base and engage said yoke, and a tripping and release lever fulcrumed at one end of the base, its longer arm extended rearwardly and thence downwardly through an aperture disposed centrally of'the base, its, shorter arm on'e'to be tripped by a rodent;

2. In a trap in comb'nation, an apertured.

one end thereo its longer end extended rear-- wardly and projected through anapert'ure disposed centrally of the base, a rod pivot ally mounted on said base, torsion springs mounted on said rod, a yoke pivotally moun- I its arms passing through apertures in the b'a se,'ada pted to be actuated by said yoke, oneend o said lever adapted for engagement In testimony whereof we have hereunto affixed 5 our signatures, at Abingdon, Knox 'county, fIll., this lOth'd'ay of June, 1907.

WILLIAM 1). ARMSTRONG. WILLIAM CHAUNCEY HOOKER.

KNOX R. MARKS: I

u VVitnesses:.

Zon MARKS,

J. C. SHoor. 

